Like the supermarket chain, whose remarkable success means they dominate High Street spending, the experiment started just over a decade ago by Sheikh Mohammed has developed into the single most powerful operation the world of racing has ever witnessed.

The sheer scale of investment this year is reflected in a Newmarket-based string of 340, including at least 180 two-year-olds.

To date, the famous blue silks have been carried to success in 115 Group One races in 11 different countries, of which 20 have been Classic victories. And yet, in a sense, they have only just begun to get into top gear following the decision to bring all their horses under one roof, rather than having the two-year-olds trained separately.

In theory, it should be only a matter of time before Godolphin win all the domestic Classics in one season.

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There have been owners whose influence at the highest level has extended over a longer period of time, the most obvious being the Aga Khan and his forebears.

However, the Maktoum family have been racing on these shores for a quarter of a century and there is every indication that the younger members of the family intend to continue the tradition, given the array of purchases made at the recent Tattersalls Breeze-Up Sale by Sheikh Rashid, son of Sheikh Mohammed.

Of course, the arguments will continue as to whether such dominance enhances or diminishes the sport.

The 'Little Englander' tendency huff and puff about maidens up and down the land being 'swamped' by the Boys in Blue. But such harbingers of doom and gloom miss the point.

Although Godolphin are based in the cradle of Flat racing, the focus for much of their activity remains beyond these shores, whether it be the US, Australia, Hong Kong or some new horizon. A large number of horses are needed to fulfil such global ambitions and a significant share of the juveniles will be brought on slowly (and may not even race this year) with future goals in mind.

Whatever the motives behind setting up Godolphin, whether it be promoting Dubai or cocking a snook at trainers with purely domestic ambitions, their presence underpins Britain's pre-eminence among racing nations.

You may like or loathe supermarkets but for millions of people, shopping without Tesco is unthinkable. Racing without Godolphin is similar and we should enjoy this unique chapter in the sport's rich history for as long as it lasts.